Easter Seals West Alabama

Easter Seals West Alabama had its modest beginnings as the former Tuscaloosa Rehabilitation Facility, which opened in 1959 with only four staff members and ten consumers.

West Alabama Rehabilitation Center’s Board of Directors was organized in October 1967, and began planning for a new building and program of services to meet the needs of six counties in West Alabama. The facility at 1110 6th Avenue East contained 23,000 square feet of floor space, was opened in February 1970 with services provided to 44 individuals. As the consumer population grew, the primary service area also grew to eight counties.

In 1985, the facility became known as West Alabama Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center when Easter Seals Alabama restructured their bylaws requiring all facilities operating under their umbrella to include “Easter Seal” in their name. In 1999, the facility again changed its name to join a nationwide Easter Seals “brand” campaign to increase recognition about who Easter Seals is and what we do. We are now known as Easter Seals West Alabama.

In the 1990’s, Health Care Reform emerged and new trends in rehabilitation service delivery were pioneered. In 1993, we were the first Easter Seals facility in the state to make way for this new trend called Community-Based Rehabilitation

More aggressive special event fundraising made it possible to purchase specialty equipment for state of the art rehabilitation therapies. In addition, a grant writer was hired to pursue grants on the state and federal levels that would enhance programs and services and to create additional sources of funding for consumer services. In 2002 a grant was received by the Federal Transit Authority, which allows us to provide transportation to and from work and job training for low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

Through all these changes, Easter Seals West Alabama has remained true to its mission of serving children and adults with disabilities while maintaining a reputation for quality, comprehensive services.

Did You Know?

For 25 consecutive years, the National Health Council has cited Easter Seals as the nationwide leader among its member voluntary non-profit health care organizations for the percentage of program dollars spent on direct client services.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. For the past 15 years, it has ensured a clear and comprehensive federal prohibition of discrimination against people with disabilities in private sector employment and continues to ensure equal access for people with disabilities to public accommodations, public services, transportation and telecommunications.
A federal law for 30 years, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees an appropriate public education and access to early intervention and preschool programs to children with disabilities.

Increase Your Understanding

Remember that people with disabilities lead lives just like people without disabilities…..they go to school, get married, work, have families, do laundry, grocery shop, laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, vote, plan and dream like everyone else. Stereotypes are hard to fight, especially for people with disabilities. Remember that misconceptions may stem from attitudes and environmental barriers, rather than from someone's disability. Encourage participation of people with disabilities in your community. When you visit restaurants or shopping malls, think about whether someone with a disability could be there with you. If not, discuss with the manager how a person with a disability could be a customer and the need for their business to be accessible to everyone.

Makana Willis Makana came to Easter Seals in 2004 when she was 2. She has Down Syndrome and hypothyroidism. Makana was non-verbal and used sign language to communicate. Easter Seals speech therapy helped change that. The speech therapist at Easter Seals provides a secure yet stimulating environment in which Makana thrives. She is now 4-years old, talks a mile a minute, and has a smile that lights up the room. Makana likes to read, play the guitar and loves ice cream and Sponge Bob.
	Sammy Minor Meet 44-year old Sammy. Sammy is paralyzed and was referred to Easter Seals Vocational Program by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services in 2004. He never gave up on getting a job in his small town of Brent, Alabama. Sammy captured the attention of a local employer, Sav-Mor Grocery who noticed Sammy’s ability and offered him a job. Sammy has a cheerful, genuine, and courteous attitude toward customers. He credits Easter Seals West Alabama for helping him find gainful employment.
Aaron Henderson Meet 14-year old Aaron. Aaron has Autistic Spectrum Disorder and receives Occupational and Speech Therapy from Easter Seals West Alabama. He is faced with sensory, visual, and auditory processing issues. His mother said, “In 2002, he learned how to tie his shoes; a task that I once thought impossible due to his fine motor deficits. His therapist at Easter Seals discovered a way for Aaron to understand the art of tying his shoes, which resulted in positive outcomes for my child.” Aaron also has a stuttering disorder. His cognitive level of understanding or responding to therapy was challenging. His mom said, “My child’s ability to communicate is a reflection of the therapist’s commitment in helping individuals with speech language disorders.” I can only envision continued success.”
	Kenny Denton Meet 40-year old Kenny. In March 1986, Kenny, an assertive young man who was climbing the ladder of success, was involved in an automobile accident that changed his life forever. He sustained spinal cord and head injuries and found himself unable to work. Not content with his prognosis, Kenny found Easter Seals West Alabama and his dreams of returning to work and leading a more independent life were rekindled. Because of his involvement in the Vocational Evaluation, Job Development and Job Coaching programs, coupled with physical and speech therapy, Kenny accepted the position of Film Repair Specialist at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Kenny’s determination to succeed and dedication to his work make him a great example for others with disabilities.